Dimmer



Oct. 18, 1927.

H. K. LORENTZEN DIMMER Filed A1121. 13. 1924 Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

HANS K. LORENTZEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DIMMER.

Application filed August 13, 1924. Serial No. 731,742.

r This invention relates generally to dim-V mer devices for use with automobile headlights. V

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved device for this general purpose which can be readily operated without removal of the drivers hand from the steering wheel and which in addition provides for a varying degree of dimming effect within the control of the operator.

Other features of the invention include a variable resistance or rheostat element including-a specially formed coil and support therefor which can be fitted into and readily removed from a compactly formed casing adapted to be mounted on the steering post in a position accessible to the hand of the ",operator on the steering wheel. The casing supports a movable switch member which gearries a contact arranged to be moved across the,windings"of the coil in direct contact therewith to thereby include a greater or lesser number of turns of the coil within the lighting circuit inwhich the'coil is included.

A terminal for the coil is mounted at the inner end of the core member and a groove in the wall ofthe core member provides a housingalong which the conductor leading from .the coil terminalextendsto a point of emergence-fr-om the casingat the other end there of. In like manner a conductor receivlng groove is formed in the core member onthe i opposite side thereof and leads to a terminal member carried by the core adjacent its inner end and so mounted as to be engaged with a contact member carried by the switch 1' device which engages thecoil at the inner end thereof. T

Other features of the invention will be ahereinafterreferred to. I Y

p In the drawings in which a preferredem bodiment of the invention has been selected for illustration, a

; Figure l is a view in side elevation of a 5. dimmer device embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a. view in vertical section of the device shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing-the parts; arranged at a right angle to the position of the parts shown in Figure 2. a v

- 1. Figure 4 is a cross-section of the device q shown in Figure 2 looking upwardly from the position of the-arrows Figure is a view incross-seetion of Figure 2 looking downwardly from the position of the arrows 5-5.

Referring to the drawings, for more detailed description of theinvention, a dimmer device is shown which includes acylindrical tubular member 10 forming the body p01- tion of a housing for a core. member 11 I formed of .porcelain:.;or otheninsulating material and providing a support for a re.

sistance coil 12 formed of suitable conducting wire which is preferably employedfin bare form, that is,- not coated'withinsulating materlal other than the insulating s film tending to be provided of oxidation. r A

The upper or inner end of the corefmemby the products ber '11 is formed at an angle other than a' right angle as indicated at. 13 to facilitate 1 contact with the upper stretch of the coil of a sw tch contact 'memberl l' carried by a rotatable plate 15 formed of insulating material" and attached for rotative movement to a screw 16 which forms a rotatable shaft extending through a cap member 17 for the casing 10. The screw 16 has operative connection with a rotatable collar 18 engaging a the upper end of the cap member 17 and preferably extends to a position convenient tothe handof an operator on the steering wheel. It will be seen that movement of the hand operating member 19'corresponjdafforded by a contact terminal 20 on the one hand and a contact terminal 21 on the other. The contact terminal 20 referred to' is mounted on'the core member 11. as at 22 near the inner or upper endthereof and projects to a position having movable contacting engagement with a contact plate 23 carried by the insulating plate 15 and preferably forma. carrying a hand operating member 19 which "ingly swings the switchmember 14 acrossthe windings 12 between the stop members for the conductorg27 also included in the lighting circuit already referred toQ The conductors 24 and 27 lead downwardly and outwardly from-their points of attachment near the inner ends of the core member 11 through suitable channels or grooves 28 and 29 which extend axiallyalong the coremem ber on opposite sides thereof. The conductors 24 and 27 lead from the channels--28 and 29 into a suitable metallic or armored tubing 30 which has connectionwith the 7 closing capmember 31 which engages the lower end oft he cylindrical casing 10 as is 7 clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. the operation of the device it will be use n'that if the handle member 19 be moved t'oftherightas shown in Figure 3 of the drawing the switch member 14' may be movedto aposition in contact with the stop 7 "member and completely out of engage 20 mfent with anyfofthe windings of the coil In" this position of the parts the end of the'switch member is moved off the coil onto"theadjacent end of the porcelain core [member as at 32; 'It will be seen that in this pre ar tio Iflit isdesired'tocause the lamps to glow V .l dilhlyor at a reduced illumination a slight 'rnove nent of thehandlemember to the left i indicatedin Figure 3 of the drawing will move the switch member 14 into contact with windings" of the core 12 adjacent the right- 7 35 hand extremity thereof. It will be seen that theeifect ofthis is to cause current to flow ni'th'e contactmember2O through the te i23 and switchmember 14 to theright- :hand windings of thecoil 12 and turns fthroughthe entire series of windings to the terminal 26 and the conductor 27. it will thus be seenthat all the windings of the coil f fiow of current and the resulting diminution Iof the 'lightprojected by the headlights; It

' willbe seen that a further movement of the handle member19'to the left will omit more and mo're ofthe' windings of the coil 12' and thereby out out additional resistance .to

. .ther'eby produce increased illumination by theheadlights, The maximum lighting effect will "bep'roduced when the handle memi eer e has been-moved to a position to bring ithje conta ct member 14 into contact with the jterminal contact member 21 which acts to fcut" out all the windings of'the coil 12 and to I "cause current to flow directly from the switch member 14 through the contact terminal 21 to the conductor 27 as will be clear.

.will thus beseen that by a simple movefment of the hand operating member 19 the driver can'switchout the headlights altogether or produce any desired degree of illuminati'on between zero and the maximum illumination capable of being produced when the resistance coil is completely eliminated 'from the circuit. 7

In order to provide stop members for limiting the movement of the hand lever 19 aii inwardly turned lug is formed on the upper end of the cylindrical casing 10 and extends to a recess 34 provided in a rotatable disk 35 which supports the insulating plate 15; The recess '34 will, as is clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, provide shoulwhichuvill' actvasstop members to 'prei' ent inoveinent'of the handle beyond definitelin'iits in eitherdirection.

' In order to'provide convenient means for attaching the device to a point onthe steering post convenient to the steering wheel, a

"hole 37 provided in the porcelain core desired support'as will be-c'le'ar.

that is CltLlIDGClIS 1. n a variable re'sistancedevi ce forelectrical circ uits,'an elongated'coil supporting member formed of lnsulating material a coil wound on the supporting member-longltu'dinaliythereof, a casing for the coil and the supporting member,a switch arin rotatably mounted' on one end of the ca's1ng, a contact member mounted on'thei'mner face "of the end. of the casing and arranged to'be ,inoved by the arm, the adjacent end ofthe coil and the coil support being inclinedto member, and, conductor-receiving channels vextending axially of the. coil supporting 1 6 l Opposite sides thereof. I

12 have been included in the circuit with the j fj'c'orresponding addition of resistance to the 2. In a' control device for automobile oppositely disposed *flat surfaces, a c'oil iwound longitudinally of-= the :core on {said flat surfaces, the end of the core adjacent the switch arm being inclined, a contact member adapted to be moved by the switch arm across thewindings of the coil on the inclined'face, oppositely disposed axially extending grooves in the surface of'the core member between the "coil-supporting surfaces; and conductor connections for the contact member and the; coil leading along ing.

said grooves 'to the other endof the cas- In a control device-for automobile v headlightsfa cylindricalcasing,*'a switch of the core member on said fiat surfaces, a contact member adapted to be moved by the switch arm across the windings of the coil at the adjacent end of the core, oppositely disposed axially extending grooves in the surface of the core member between the coilsupporting fiat surfaces, a contact member mounted onthe core member in one of the grooves adjacent the switch contact member, an electrical connection between said contact members, a coil terminal mounted in the adjacent end of the opposite groove, and conductor connection for the coil terminal and the contact member leading along said headlights, a cylindrical casing, a switch arm pivoted on one end of the casing, a core member for the casing having a coil wound longitudinally thereot, a plate mounted on the inner surface of the end of the casing and connected to the switch arm for rotation thereby, a switch contact member carried by the plate and arranged to be moved across and in contact with the windings of the coil, oppositely disposed axially extending grooves on the core, a contact member mounted on the core member in one of the grooves and having contacting engagement.

with the plate on the casing, said contact member projecting beyond the end of the core member and serving as a stop to limit the movement of the contact member, said contact member being spaced from the first winding of the coil to provide for disengagement of the switch contact member from the coil, a terminal member for the coil mounted in the opposite groove and projecting beyond the end of the core to provide a stop member to limit the movement of the switch contact member in the other direction, supplemental coacting stop means carried by the casing and the switch arm parts, and conductor connections for the coil terminal and the contact member extending along said grooves to the other end of the casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. V

HANS K. LORENTZEN. 

